Launching From Dead Stop

[Steve P]

I have a 1980 XS1100SG. The bike runs great. I can let out the clutch and take off easy or I can give her a little more gas and let the clutch out a little quicker and move off with no problem. It runs right up to 8000 rpm with no trouble in all gears. It's real reliable and feels quick. The question is why am I having difficulty getting the rear wheel to spin from a dead stop? If I dump the clutch at 2 to 3 thousand rpm, it kind of bogs down and the tire won't break loose. Even at 4000 rpm, pretty much the same situation. The rear tire is the stock size (Dunlop D404). Anybody have any suggestions, ideas? Thanks

PS Air pressure is 26 psi and tire has 1000 miles on it.

[81xsproject]

If you rev and drop, you are probably more likely to bring the front wheel off the ground than break traction in the back.

[TopCatGr58]

Spinning your wheels!

Hey Steve,

Okay, let me see if I understand what you're asking. You can ride the bike just fine, lots of power when riding, etc. !

HOWEVER, you can't BURN RUBBER from a dead stop!?

The shaft drive of the XS/XJ11 is different than a chain drive bike. The torsion affect of the driveshaft when torque is applied and it's trying to rotate the tire, it's also pushing DOWNWARD on the swingarm pushing the tire more into the pavement while trying to lift the rear of the bike, so you get even MORE traction. You're more likely to pull a wheelie than break the rear tire loose!

IF you want to break it loose, either be on some gravel, sand, water, oil etc., but have a good grip and be able to keep it upright or it can easily slide out from under you....600+lbs isn't light!
T.C.

[Crazcnuk]

Any performance vehicle that can spin it's tires, easily, is not built right.

If everything is designed correctly your bike should be able to plant all of it's power rather than breaking the rear loose.

As someone mentioned, watch out for hooking up and flipping it over backwards.

[wa407mpp]

burnouts

these bikes were never designed to do burnouts, they were designed to get from a to b as fast as posiable without loss of traction. To do this you roll off the line to about 15 mph then let her rip. If you did your homework you won't be disapointed.burnouts are for rookies not fastmovers.

[trbig]

Pilot jets could be a little dirty also. It wouldn't let it get full power down low. The mains start kicking in @ 3200 and should be running fully on them @ 4k on up. If you are launching your bike even slightly, it should be bringing the front wheel off the ground. A 4k launch should flip it or spin the tire if the clutches are operating correctly. Between the torque and your body weight, if the pavement is good with a lot of aggregate (Gravel) on top you'll have a tough time spinning. But if you find some asphalt where just the black tar is exposed.. especially in the wheel ruts.. you should be able to there.

Just a hunch... but you won't be posting in the "Tire longevity" posts will you... lol.


Tod

[GNEPIG]

XS11 Burnout:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQU7ZYuY6Dw

Quote:
.. PS Air pressure is 26 psi and tire has 1000 miles on it.

26 psi is not enough= too much contact patch, too much traction.
If you want the really good burnouts, fill your rear tire to 40 psi= makes your tire harder with a smaller contact patch.
I used to do those rolling burn-outs too, just moving about 5 to 10 mph, rev it up and dump the clutch. Gotta be careful of what kind of surface your on tho.

[petejw]

These we'll do good burn outs,
apply the front brake,
rev the motor, drop the clutch while holding the front,
as the tyre smokes, gradually let go of the front brake,
and ride off smoking them up,
thats how ive done it.

[pggg]

The poor few with 750 rear drive XS1100's can forget about burnouts wheelies of fast take offs, the 1st gear cog will jump out and rattle something wicked if you dare hammer it in 1st gear meaning 6000 revs, drop the clutch standing start takeoffs t0o

[Crazcnuk]

Anyone can detune thier bike to make it do stuff it shouldn't.

Just not sure why one would want to.

[Hired_Goon]

Mine just gets up and boogies of the line. Only time I get wheelspin is when I'm splitting and the rear is parked on the white line.

Oh, and does great second and third gear spins in the wet.

[trbig]

The poor few with 750 rear drive XS1100's can forget about burnouts wheelies of fast take offs, the 1st gear cog will jump out and rattle something wicked if you dare hammer it in 1st gear meaning 6000 revs, drop the clutch standing start takeoffs t0o

[John]

Pat

Originally posted by pggg
The poor few with 750 rear drive XS1100's can forget about burnouts wheelies of fast take offs, the 1st gear cog will jump out and rattle something wicked if you dare hammer it in 1st gear meaning 6000 revs, drop the clutch standing start takeoffs t0o

What kind of idiot would do that anyway? We that have done the swap, know that we can't do it, and we don't even try.. I have had mine swapped out for over a year now, and I have nothing but positive results, so until you have done the swap, then how can you condemn it? If we wanted a chaindrive bike with a wide rear tire, then we could have bought another make of bike but most of us bought it for the shaft drive, and I for one can't figure out why someone would want to hack up a bike , but that is up to you, and I, nor any of the other guys that have done the swap, have said anything negative about the chop job, SO PLEASE STOP RAGGIN' ON THE FINAL DRIVE MOD, OK?
And another thing... I have ridden with Maximan, and I, as well as other TeXSives have seen Zilla lift the front wheel on a 1-2 shift, and that was with the 750 drive, and mine will still lift the front wheel in first, so half of what you say is totally untrue, so please have your stuff in one sock before you start talking about something you've not experienced.

[Crazcnuk]

Quite frankly, I think the final drive mod sounds awesome. Mine just arrived today, ready for me to do the swap.

those with the stock gearing may get a slight jump, off the line, but at mid throttle we (with the mod) will walk by and never look back.

That being said, as John stated, if you want a crotch rocket then, by all means go buy one. The XS WAS a superbike IN IT'S DAY, but there are plenty faster, quicker and more powerful bikes out there now. If that's what you want then go get one.

I bought the XS as a TOURING bike. Mine is fully decked out, and I am looking at fuel econony, not wheelies or burnouts.

I spent many, many hours, and lots of $$$ making my Monte Carlo hook up with 500+ hp. Yes, I can rotate the street tires at will, but I was never inclined to drag race on the street. Once the slicks are on, and I do my water burnout, I can hook every ounce of power to the ground. I have Firestone Firehawks, for street tires, and they have been on the car for over 10 years. They are just now on the wear marks on the rear tires.

Anyone who thinks burnouts on a bike are fun, should go watch that electric bike burnout video.

[skids]

Here is my take on it. I have a nakid model E that I wouldn't dream doing a 750 rear-end mod. It is just too much fun .. even at my age.

I do have a model H with the 750 final drive mod and it is slower off the line. Absolutely slower. It is nice and smooth at highway speeds and I will be using it for a long trip the first chance I get.
It is, however, a modification to meet my needs. Am I a purest? No way!